Government Capitulates to 2nd Surrender of Britain’s Fishing

17th March 2018

by Njordr AB

Government Capitulates to 2nd Surrender of Britain’s Fishing

The news that the government will capitulate to continuing the same terms of the CFP after Brexit as part of a transition make a mockery of the grandstanding about “leaving the CFP” and “taking back control”. https://www.ft.com/content/89ef8760-2931-11e8-b27e-cc62a39d57a0

It’s an irrevocable surrender of Britain’s fishing for a second time. It squanders one golden legal opportunity as Article 50 gives a clean slate with the “treaties ceasing to apply” – as the EU agreed to.

This means that on the 29th March 2019 the CFP and all its rights and obligations would cease and the UK would revert to international law – giving complete control over all waters and resources.

All the government had to do was cross its arms and say No! Instead we have surrender to replicating current shares and access as part of a capitulation to EU demands to obey ALL EU law after we leave as part of a new transition deal and treaty.

This means our supine government and civil servants will technically “take back control as an independent coastal state” but will hand everything straight back to the EU on a plate where we are a satellite vassal state.

It’s a pitiful, disgusting, abject betrayal. Even with the biggest democratic mandate in British history by 17.5 million people the europhilia in the conservative party and the effete, supine civil service means they will capitulate to the EU and throw coastal communities to the wolves.

The grave consequence is never escaping because the UK, in agreeing to re-obey the CFP in a new treaty, gives the EU grounds to claim continuity and continuation of rights under the Article 70 and Article 30 of the Vienna Convention of Treaties.

The EU can take us to the cleaners by enforcing detrimental legislation to eradicate what’s left of the British fleet and then use international fisheries law (under UNCLOS Article 62.2) to claim the “surplus” resources we would have lost the fleet capacity to catch.

They can abolish the 12mile limit which protects our inshore and shell-fishermen, overturn relative stability shares. Most severely, being trapped in the transition means continuing with the disastrous quota system that forces fishermen to discard species they have no quota for as they try to search for what they are allowed to keep.

Without addressing the cause of discards – quotas – the ill-founded discard ban means fishermen must stop fishing when they exhaust their smallest quota – a choke species – regardless of any other species they still have quota to catch.

Studies by public body Seafish have estimated this would mean approximately 60% of the UK’s resources would go uncaught due to this with a similar proportion of the fleet forced out and bankrupted.

Brexit would have allowed the industry to dodge this bullet by allowing new bespoke British policy that would have moved to a new discard free management system where fishermen would be limited in time at sea in return for being able to keep all catches.

Now, whilst trapped in the transition, the EU can use the discard ban as a guise to bankrupt what’s left of the British industry and claim all our resources.

This abject, limp betrayal of Britain’s hard working fishermen and coastal communities means we are staring down the barrel of a gun when a good clean Brexit would be a salvation, allowing repatriation of half our resources to create a £6-8bn industry to rejuvenate communities.

The government knows full well and has been well briefed on the dire ramifications but have deliberately chosen to disregard all representations and public sentiment to supinely appease the EU.

The Prime Ministers Mansion House Speech said this transition sell out was close to being agreed. As early as February this decision to sacrifice fishing was confessed to by chief civil servants despite official protestations (most recently Michael Gove and Ruth Davidson) that fishing would be thrown away as part of a transition.

All the histrionics of “leaving the CFP” and “taking back control” have been nothing but playing semantics as a smoke screen of rhetoric to beguile people whilst omitting that our control will be very limited whilst trapped in a transition.

Now we know why the government has continually reverted to a default answer rather than clearly stating in unequivocal terms not that we ‘leave the CFP’ but that there will be no continuation of it in any way shape or form post 2019

This cynicism has now been exposed as a PR exercise playing on words with the reality being that they are prepared to spit in the face of what folk voted for and toss many good MPs, who are genuinely behind the democratic decision and their coastal communities.

We now ask the industry and public to rally to save Brexit and the industry by helping to keep unrelenting pressure to bolster MPs so they avert this surrender.

The conservatives were given one chance to redeem themselves with Brexit, yet they are inches away from failure and consigning another British industry to museum and memory, despite it being an “acid test”.

Failure by the government or MPs to execute a hand brake turn will deservedly see the conservatives eradicated and also consigned to museum and memory in many coastal constituencies.

If you liked this post, please use the share buttons below to share it with your community. Thank you.

Brenden Dyke

Share this massively. Nothing will be done unless people are seen to dissent. Lobby ministers, the wet paper bag, Amber Rudd and anybody with a shred of influence. Otherwise, it will sink below the horizon without so much as a ripple.

taimoshan

When will you wise up to your so called leader Mr Armstrong?

Little Black Censored

Keel-haul the lot of them.

Lyn

What is wrong with this government, stand up for the people of Britain. STOP giving in to these demands. Don`t give them anything they have had enough over the years.

Olly Connelly

Brino here we come. Traitors aplenty.

Stamford Raffles

Theresa and her civil service appeasers have done it again. Seems she gives in on everything.

Joe Adam-Smith

OK, slag down this pathetic corrupt government. But……… What is the EU-loving SNP saying? This whole thing from ALL parties is abysmal!!!!!!!

EmilyEnso

Not UKIP.

Joe Adam-Smith

UKIP apart, Emily. But, at the moment, UKIP is in a pathetic state – despite the work of its followers. We too have been sold down the drain by the current so-called leaders…….

EmilyEnso

Absolutely – but we have a new leader.
Kicks off today in Gloucester – watch for the speech – they will have it on UKIPdaily.
We have to pick up the pieces – because we are all the opposition there is…
But the British public is so brainwashed

Who knows – they are voting like lemmings.
And they will meet the same fate unless they can move past the lib/lab/con and its betrayal of them and Britain.
Not holding my breath – mind you.
But I am trying.

Joe Adam-Smith

Keep smiling. And fighting Emily. I’m no longer standing (stood at most elections since 1997) because I’m living abroad now. All the best

EmilyEnso

I’m not the standing sort – but I am a dab hand with a pile of leaflets.
Well done – you.

Enjoy your retirement but watch the news and do continue your support.
UKIP daily is a very good site – independent of the party but with lots of news – ideal to keep an eye on.
Best wishes and thanks
Em.

Joe Adam-Smith

And you, Emily x x

Mike Ogston

The SNP are in a quandary Joe! They are desparate to stay in Europe but our Scottish fishermen want their fishING grounds back. Nickie the fish can’t have it both ways!!

Mike Ogston

Any chance of you heading back to good old sunny Ayrshire Joe? You have left a lot of friends behind! Even for a visit?

RM Paul

The ‘EU loving’ SNP are saying that the UK government have sold ALL British fishermen/women down the river (pardon the pun). An independent Scotland, within the EU, would at least give Scottish fishermen/women a say on all future policy decisions. This corrupt Westminster government (the whole point of independence) has now given the EU complete control of all fishing policies with no say in anything themselves.
Look on the bright side though, the financial sector in London (because they need all the help they can get right) will do alright from this shady horse-trading. Am I also perhaps being a little cynical if I suggested that these Westminster crooks would have more shares/options in financial companies than they might have in fishing fleets?
To clarify, I am Scottish, I did vote ‘YES’ and I will vote ‘yes’ again as soon as I’m given the opportunity. To any English men/women reading this, you have to understand that this vote, this need to be independent is not a vote against England or English people. This is a vote to free ourselves from a corrupt self-serving government. Rather than believing any BS diversionary propaganda from ‘news’ stations or ‘news’ papers that us Scots hate the English, I suggest you look at the core issue yourselves. Westminster stinks, It’s rotten to the core. They care not for you, your family or the future of your country. They care only for themselves.

Joe Adam-Smith

As opposed to the corrupt self-serving SNP, RM Paul? SNP want to be under the domination of the EU – ergo, they do not want to be truly independent.

To clarify, I am English and lived in Scotland for 25 years. I voted NO because the SNP version wanted, as I said, was nothing less than continued subjugation. Therefore, the Scottish fishermen would have virtually no say whatsoever within the EU. The UK fishermen have already been sold down the drain by Ted Heath, they do not need to be sold out again by the current lot.

Obviously, as this comment indicates, I voted LEAVE for an independent UK, not against the other peoples of the EU. I am now an ex-pat living in Greece and my Greek friends applauded the LEAVE vote – they too want to escape the EU subjugation.

RM Paul

I’m not an SNP supporter (you don’t have to be, to want to be in control of your own destiny). Whatever party (and as a Socialist country I suspect it would be Labour) won the election in an independent Scotland, it would be far easier to keep an eye on with checks and balances if they were on our own doorstep (as opposed to being holed up in a foreign nation 400 miles away).
As an Englishman living in Scotland I’m not at all surprised you voted ‘no’ (what is it they say about turkey’s voting for Christmas). The thing about brainwashing is that it is specifically designed so as the ‘brain-washed’ do not recognise it is happening. I refer mainly to the BBC here (the clue is in the name).
As the richest part of ‘your’ ancient empire left remaining (oil, salmon, whisky and not to mention 20% VAT on everything any tourist ever buys) for the English, a country with a huge deficit and ridiculous debts to let Scotland go solo would be fiscal suicide.
The main difference for the fishermen right now, and to debate your own response, is, as I said earlier and you according to your text agree; Fishermen/women in Scotland would right now have ‘some say’ in matters concerning them. For instance, they could maintain the twelve mile coastal rule (not allowing any foreign vessel within twelve miles of the coast). They could also have ‘a say’ in quotas. As things stand as of now, thanks to Westminster, they have NO say at all and the EU could vote to allow any foreign vessel to come in as close in as they want. They could even put an end to quotas. In essence, over the course of the next two years, thanks to Westminster, the North Sea could effectively be ‘raped’ of all it’s species in a mad free-for-all. The fishing stocks could take decades to recover, if at all.
To simplify and summarise. The leaders of the fishing people have stated that ‘we’ are now, again thanks to Westminster, a ‘vassal state’. Well, Scotland, within the UK is and always will be a ‘vassal state’. What have we to lose by going it alone? I suggest we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. We all grow up one day to leave home and go out into the world to try our luck on our own, why should the nation of Scotland be any different?
p.s I lived in Greece for a few years a long while ago. Even back then the locals were trying to buy up any gold they could (necklaces, bracelets, rings etc) from any foreigner they met. They knew, even back then that their country was heading for trouble. To compare them, fiscally, with Scotland is quite frankly ludicrous, and just a little bit shallow.

Joe Adam-Smith

You either did not read what I wrote, OR, did not understand what I wrote. Firstly: my NO vote was on the basis that the so-called independence was on the requirement to being part of the EU – that is not independence. That is making oneself as a vassal state (oxymoron in the state, there) of the EU. Where is the “independence” in being ordered around by 26 other countries? The Scottish fishermen would have been outvoted by the Danes/Spanish/French and all the other countries that would have done a deal with the said countries. By the way, under International Law, Scotland/UK/England or whatever, has control of up to 200 miles from their coast. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_waters

You mentioned Greece in response to my comment. The Greeks have known for a long time that their government was selling them down the drain. Hence your observation. That as the reason why they voted for Tsipras – who, they know, has also sold the down the drain. Greece, if you didn’t know, is no worse off than the UK. Th UK’S reported debt does not include off-balance debts like state/government/local authority debts. Nor does it include other off-balance debts like the PFI debts. If said debts WERE included then Greece would be financially better off than the UK. The UK DOES have to its advantage a good industrial basis. However, Greece has a potential oil industry going for it – whereas that of the UK, on which a lot of the SNP/Scottish fiscal income is based, is decreasing.

The one part that I DO agree with you is that: “What have we to lose by going it alone? I suggest we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.” THAT is why I voted LEAVE in the 2016 Referendum.

Joe Adam-Smith

The state/governmental/local authority debts I refer to is unfunded pensions. ie the state pension, government pensions for former government workers, and local authority pensions (eg police/fire/local authority workers). These are

all either unfunded or underfunded. They cannot be paid for under the current payments being paid by the said employees. As to the state pension – that does NOT have any funding whatsoever. It makes a Ponzi scheme look viable.

EmilyEnso

Very interesting.
Thanks.
1000 ticks.

Mike Ogston

Paul, can you do me a favour. Mr Adam-Smith has blocked me for a comment I made. Could you please send him my apologies for upsetting him & can we still be friends? Ta muchly. Mike

RM Paul

I’m afraid I seem to have also upset ‘someone’. I cannot even log back into the site!!

Freedom of speech huh! It’s a misnomer.

Mike Ogston

Must be some sensitive souls in this site. Not to worry, if you DO make contact with Joe, tell him his old pal Mike apologises & is asking after him. Cheers Paul.

Niki the fish is right in the shite! she wants desparately for us to stay in the EU. Yet her masses of fishermen are rebelling if they don’t get their (our) fishing grounds back! Cant have your cake & eat it lassie. I was a FANATIC SNP supporter till the idiots started hammering the Tories at every turn & the final straw was when she announced she will demand re-entry to Europe. As you say Joe, me ole mate, we are right in the shite!!

Little Black Censored

Keel-haul the lot of them..

About FFL

Fishing for Leave is an independent campaign set up by people in the fishing industry for the fishing industry.